Less is More

Since the Braves clinched the East, I have felt the joy of more baseball. More of that ballpark Coca-Cola. More chances to be locked in to the game. We are constantly looking for more in every area of our lives: more time, more resources, more vacation, more Blue Bell ice cream... maybe that's just me.

We are a world gratified by more.

This Sunday we begin our Stewardship Campaign by learning how Less is More. One of, if not the wealthiest human being to ever live, Solomon, wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. This book is filled with wisdom on many topics. Our scripture speaks to the age-old problem of always wanting more.

Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil and chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

The name Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means assembly or congregation. Ecclesiastes literally means the gathering of the congregation. As we begin this series at THE Roswell UMC Ecclesia, we ask: What if Solomon is right? What if it really is better to have an empty hand and peace than two hands full and chaos? Paul echoes these words in his letter to Timothy when he says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Not that money is the root of all evil, but that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

If our arms are constantly full of everything we can get our hands on, we find ourselves at risk of falling into any and all kinds of evil. It is often in our wanting more that we feel ourselves most depleted instead of most gratified.

This week we will be handing out challenge cards that are designed to help us live out the concept of less is more. The cards will have three directions to help us:

1. Cut back

2. Clear out

3. Pay off

As you look at your schedule for the week, what is one less thing you can add to your schedule to open more time for worship? This will pay off! We hope to worship with you this week in any of our three services as we start this stewardship journey together.

In the hollow of His hands,